Huge crowds turn out to say goodbye to Linda

“IN my many years as a priest I have never seen queues as long and as enduring as I’ve seen over the past couple of days outside Pauline’s home.”

“IN my many years as a priest I have never seen queues as long and as enduring as I’ve seen over the past couple of days outside Pauline’s home.”

These were the words of Very Rev Pat McEnroe PP Dromiskin at the funeral Mass for Linda Bray Gort Nua Castlebellingham who lost her life in a road accident the previous weekend.

While reposing at her sister Pauline’s home at Church view Dromiskin, hundreds of people had called to pay their respects and St Peter’s Church Dromiskin was full on Wednesday last for the funeral Mass at 12 noon.

Linda grew up in Dromiskin, and had worked at the local school, where she was highly regarded by everyone.

“She could fix a plug or a light,” said Fr McEnroe, “and had no problem attacking the heating system.

“She was a most generous person. Full of goodness. She was larger than life.

“She was dedicated to her grandmother Vera and she will be mixing among the best, the angels and the saints.

“Linda’s message to everyone one of us is: Yes. Your life is precious and cherished.

“May she now be free so that she can rest eternally in God’s light.

“May Linda rest in peace.”

At the funeral Mass gifts representing Linda’s life were presented by her children, Tiernan, 10, and Erane, 6, and her nieces and nephews.

The Offertory gifts were presented by her mother Rose and her grandmother Vera.

The readings were by Elizabeth Hoey and Maureen Murphy, a very dedicated friend to Linda and her family.

And Linda’s niece, Laura Bray, wrote and read a beautiful tribute, What’s an Aunt, at the end of the Mass.

Pupils from St Peter’s National School formed a guard of honour as the funeral cortege made its way from St Peter’s Church to Dromiskin cemetery where burial took place.

Linda grew up in Dromiskin and had also lived for awhile with her grandmother Vera Bray from Braganstown.

After attending St Peter’s national school Dromiskin she went to O Fiaich College Dundalk and then went on to train as a chef at the Imperial Hotel. She also worked for a number of years at Van Dijk’s at the Dublin Road.

She later worked at St Peter’s national school where she was held in the highest esteem by school Principal Gerty McGee and all the staff.

She also worked with her late dad, Francie Bray, a mechanic.

“Mrs McGee was very fond of her,” her sister Pauline said. “She was a free-spirited girl. In her world there was no such thing as can’t.

“She was happy-go-lucky. She was a great mother and will be a great loss to her grandmother, sisters, brothers, mother, and partner Liam.

Her sister Loretta said Linda was “just a happy-go-lucky much loved person”.

Linda is survived by her partner Liam and children Tiernan and Erane, her mother Rose, also Irene, her sisters Pauline, Loretta, Helena, Sonia, her brothers Francis, Sean, James, her grandmother Vera, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, all her many friends, especially her friend Michelle and also Liam’s family.

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